Rosalie:  a  Comedy  in 
Dne  Act:  by  Max 
Maurey :  Translated  by 
3arrett  H.  Clark 


Jamuel  French:  Publisher 

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Rosalie :   a   Comedy  in 
One     Act  :     by     Max 

5 

Maurey :    Translated    by 
Barrett  H.  Clark 

Copyright,  1915,  by  Samuel  French 


Amateurs  may  present  this  play  without  payment  of  royalty.  This 
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Samuel  French:  Publisher 

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pa 


MAX  MAUREY 

Max  Maurey,  author  of  a  number  of  clever  one- 
act  plays  and  a  few  of  greater  length,  is  the  direc- 
tor of  the  Grand  Guignol  Theater  in  Paris.  The 
present  comedy  was  first  presented  at  that  place. 
M.  Maurey  has  also  made  a  number  of  adaptations, 
chief  among  which  is  a  dramatization  of  "  David 

Copperfield  "  which  enjoyed  a  successful  run  at  the 

t 

Odeon. 


"Rosalie  "  requires  only  the  simplest  sort  of  in- 
terior setting.  The  costumes  are  modern  and  de- 
scribed at  sufficient  length  in  the  stage-directions. 


5 

1232911 


PERSONS  IN  THE  PLAY 


ROSALIE 

MONSIEUR  BOL 

MADAME  BOL 

ROSALIE the  maid 

SCENE  :     The  BOLS'  parlor,  Paris. 
TIME  :     The  present. 


ROSALIE 


SCENE:  A  small,  modestly-furnished  parlor.  En- 
trances center  and  left.  Mantel-piece  left  of 
center  entrance.  Sofa  down-stage  left;  a  table 
and  a  chair  down  stage  right;  a  writing  desk 
right;  window  up  stage  right.  During  the 
entire  act  MONSIEUR  BOL  never  sits  down. 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  {In  evening  clothes;  as  the  cur- 
tain rises,  he  is  just  lighting  the  last  candle  in  a 
candelabrum  on  the  mantel-piece}  Half  an  hour 
and  he'll  be  here ! 

MADAME  BOL.  (Putting  flowers  in  a  vase  on  the 
table)  I  only  hope  he'll  be  on  time! 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  He's  always  on  time.  At  college, 
I  remember  it  was  a  common  saying :  "  As  punctual 
as  Poulot." — He's  never  a  second  late — never. 
When  he  says,  "  I'll  be  there  at  eight  o'clokc/'  on 
the  stroke  of  eight — Pff — there's  your  Poulot !  He's 
a  human  chronometer. 

MADAME  BOL.  (Slightly  nervous")  But — is  he 
nice? 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  Charming.  You'll  see.  Not  at 
all  proud ;  really  charming.  Think  of  it  \  It  was 
fifteen  years  since  we'd  seen  one  another.  Why, 
he  recognized  me  in  a  second.  "  My  poor  fellow," 
he  said,  "  how  changed  you  are !  How  old  you 
look ! " 

MADAME  BOL.  Oh,  that  wasn't  very  nice  of  him  f 
7 


8  ROSALIE 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  Not  very  nice?  You  must  be 
crazy,  Eulalie.  Perhaps  it  wouldn't  have  been  very 
nice  coming  from  someone  else,  but  from  M.  Poulot 
the  rich  M.  Poulot,  with  an  income  of  I  don't  know 
how  many  thousands, — it  was  most  friendly — I  re- 
peat, most  friendly. 

MADAME  BOL.    I  understand. 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  We  must  endeavor  to  supple- 
ment our  modest  little  repast  this  evening  with  what 
extras  in  the  way  of  domestic  attractions  we  are 
able  to  provide.  When  Poulot  leaves  here  this 
evening,  he  must  say  to  himself :  "  I  never  visited 
a  more  hospitable  home,  nor  saw  a  more  charming 
woman  than  Madame  Bol,  nor  a  more  intelligent 
man  than  Monsieur  Bol."  In  short,  we  must  enter- 
tain him  in  royal  fashion.  Be  as  agreeable  as  pos- 
sible. 

MADAME  BOL.  My  dear  Hippolyte,  I  am  used  to 
receiving  company.  Agreeable!  Be  agreeable!  I 
don't  know  how  not  to  be. 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  Of  course! — And  above  all, 
let's  not  argue!  See?  Is  everything  ready? 

MADAME  BOL.  Everything!  The  tea  is  in  the 
teapot;  the  little  cakes  are  on  the  dishes;  I  even 
scattered  in  a  few  glace  fruits. 

MONSIEUR  BOL.     Splendid!    That's  a  good  idea, 

MADAME  BOL.  I  tell  you,  when  I  once  make  up 
my  mind,  I  can  receive  as  well  as  anybody. 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  Good ! — Don't  forget  to  have  the 
water  boiling  hot — tea  is  undrinkable  when  it  is  not 
boiling  hot. 

MADAME  BOL.    I  told  Rosalie. 

MONSIEUR  BOL.    Did  you  give  her  a  clean  apron  ? 

MADAME  BOL.     Rosalie? 

MONSIEUR  BOL.    Yes. 

MADAME  BOL.    Not  yet. 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  Good  Lord!  In  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  Poulot  will  be  here! 


ROSALIE  9 

MADAME  BOL.  We  have  plenty  of  time.  Don't 
you  worry  about  Rosalie.  I'll  give  her  a  clean  apron 
just  before  eight.  She's  so  careless,  she'd  muss  it 
in  a  second. 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  Perhaps  you're  right.  But  it 
might  be  a  good  idea  to  bring  her  in. 

MADAME  BOL.  In  a  minute,  my  dear!  I've  ex- 
plained everything  to  her :  how  to  open  the  door  for 
M.  Poulot,  how  to  bring  him  in,  how  to  announce 
him. 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  I  do  hope  she  won't  make  any 
breaks !  Poulot  is  of  course  a  man  of  breeding,  a 
man  of  the  world.  We  must  seem  as  if  we  were 
used  to  receiving  high-class  people.  Don't  seem  at 
all  surprised.  (Proudly)  Let  us  be  elegant,  yet 
simple. 

MADAME  BOL.  (Nervously)  Yes, — but  sit 
down,  won't  you?  You've  been  standing  up  since 
dinner.  You  make  me  nervous. 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  Sit  down?  Don't  you  see,  I 
can't ! 

MADAME  BOL.    Why? 

MONSIEUR  BOL.     Because  of  the  crease! 

MADAME  BOL.    The  crease?    What  crease? 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  The  crease  in  my  trousers!  I 
had  a  hard  enough  time  getting  it,  and  I'm  hanged 
if  I  spoil  it  now !  Don't  you  see,  I'm  in  evening 
dress  ?  When  a  man's  in  evening  dress,  his  trousers 
must  be — impeccable! 

MADAME  BOL.  Why,  there  was  no  use  at  all  of 
your  dressing  up  like  that.  This  isn't  a  party. 
There'll  be  only  three  of  us. 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  That  isn't  the  question.  In 
London,  all  men  put  on  evening  clothes  after  six 
o'clock.  Poulot  will.  I'll  wager  he  is  every  night 
Let's  take  a  look  at  you.  Turn  around. 

MADAME  BOL.    What  do  you  want? 

MONSIEUR  BOL.    I  want  to  see  your  dress. 


io  ROSALIE 

MADAME  BOL,  (Turning  around)  There,  are 
you  satisfied? 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  (Examining  her  dress)  Yes—- 
that's not  at  all  bad. 

MADAME  BOL.  (Turning  round  and  facing  him) 
Well,  it's  the  only  one  I've  got. 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  (Quickly)  Of  course!  Of 
course!  (Examining  her  critically)  If  I  were  in 
your  place  (Descriptive  gesture)  I'd  build  out  a 
little  there.  (Pointing  to  her  back) 

MADAME  BOL.  Build  out  a  little !  You  think 
you  can  give  me  advice  on  how  to  dress  ? !  You • 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  There,  there!  Don't  get  ex- 
cited. When  you  get  angry  you  turn  red,  and  that 
makes  you  look  common. 

MADAME  BOL.  Oh,  you, — !  You  make  me  tired  I 
(Calling)  Rosalie!  Rosalie! 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  Don't  shout  so  loud!  You'll 
get  too  excited. 

MADAME  BOL.    Then  you  call  her! 

MONSIEUR  BOL.    What  do  you  want  with  her? 

MADAME  BOL.  I  want  to  know  whether  every- 
thing is  ready. 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  (Calling)  Rosalie!  Rosalie! 
Stubborn  girl!  She  hears  me.  (Goes  to  door  c. 
and  opens  it)  Rosalie!  (As  he  is  at  door  c.,  enter 
ROSALIE  left) 

-  ROSALIE.    Did  Madame  call? 

MADAME  BOL.  I've  been  calling  you  for  an  hour; 
didn't  you  hear? 

ROSALIE.     (Calmly)     No,  Madame. 
MONSIEUR  BOL.    Are  you  deaf? 

-  ROSALIE.    No,  Monsieur. 

MADAME  BOL.    Then  why  didn't  you  hear  me? 

ROSALIE.    I  don't  know. 

MADAME  BOL.  (Mimicking  her)  I  don't  know! 
You  never  know  anything!  Why,  someone  might 
have  rung  the  door-bell! 


ROSALIE  U 

•  ROSALIE.    It  isn't  my  fault. 

MADAME  BOL.  (Mimicking)  It  isn't  my  fault! 
(Severely)  It's  never  your  fault! 

ROSALIE.  Madame  told  me  to  close  my  kitchen 
door;  that's  why  I  didn't  hear. 

MADAME  BOL.  I  told  you  to  close  your  kitchen 
door  because  I  didn't  want  the  smell  of  grease  to 
go  all  over  the  house.  It's  been  two  hours  since 
dinner !  You're  a  fool,  my  girl.  Come  !  Take  off 
that  apron.  ( ROSALIE  takes  off  her  apron  and  is 
about  to  throw  it  aside,  when  MADAME  BOL  cries 
out)  Don't  do  that!  (ROSALIE  holds  the  apron 
in  her  hand)  Give  it  to  Monsieur.  (MONSIEUR 
BOL  rudely  snatches  the  apron  from  ROSALIE  and 
lays  it  on  the  chair)  There!  (Handing  her  a 
flean  apron  which  he  takes  from  the  table)  There's 
a  clean  one!  (ROSALIE  is  about  to  take  the  apron, 
when  MADAME  BOL  again  cries  out)  Don't  touch 
it !  You'll  muss  it.  (MADAME  BOL  takes  the  apron 
from  her) 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  (Taking  the  clean  apron  from 
MADAME  BOL)  Hand  it  to  me!  (He  crosses  be- 
hind ROSALIE  and  fastens  the  apron  on  her) 
There!  Now  do  everything  as  Madame  Bol  has 
told  you.  In  a  few  minutes  the  bell  will  ring;  it 
will  be  M.  Poulot,  a  friend  of  ours — very  rich. 
Do  everything  as  you're  told. 

ROSALIE.    M.  Poulot? 

MADAME  BOL.  Yes !  As  soon  as  you  hear  the 
bell  you  run  to  the  door.  M.  Poulot  will  ask  you: 
"  Are  Monsieur  and  Madame  Bol  at  home  ?  "  And 
you  will  answer  this  way,  smiling :  "  Yes,  Mon- 
sieur." 

-  ROSALIE.    And  what  if  M.  Poulot  doesn't  ask? 
MADAME  BOL.     Goodness !    What  a  fool ! 
MONSIEUR  BOL.    Good  heavens,  he  will  ask  you! 

Hurry  up,  he'll  be  here  in  five  minutes. 


12  ROSALIE 

MADAME  BOL.  (To  ROSALIE)  Listen!  As  soon 
as  you  have  said,  "  Yes,  Monsieur,"  you 

ROSALIE.  I  know,  Madame :  I'll  open  (lie  parlor 
door,  and  then  go  to  the  kitchen. 

MADAME  BOL.  No,  no,  no — Gracious,  no !  Wait 
a  moment,  I'll  show  you  what  to  do.  (To  MONSIEUR 
BOL)  Here,  Hippolyte,  you  be  M.  Poulot. 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  There,  Rosalie,  stand  there. 
(He  stations  her  before  the  sofa  and  pushes  her 
down,  aghast,  to  a  sitting  position}  Now  look  at 
us:  /  am  M.  Poulot — I  ring — and  Madame — you, 
that  is — goes  and  opens  the  door  for  me.  (He 
picks  up  the  apron  from  the  chair,  where  he  had 
laid  it)  This  is  my  overcoat.  (He  goes  to  door 
center,  opens  it  and  goes  out.  Closes  it  and  says) 
Ding-a-ling-a-ling !  (MADAME  BOL  goes  to  door 
and  opens  it.  MONSIEUR  BOL  appears  and  $ays,  very 
ceremoniously)  "  Are  Monsieur  and  Madame  Bol 
at  home  ?  " 

MADAME  BOL.  (In  a  declamatory  tone)  Yes, 
Monsieur — will  Monsieur  take  off  his  overcoat? 
Whom  shall  I  announce,  Monsieur? 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  (Emphatically)  Monsieur 
Poulot ! 

MADAME  BOL.  (Going  to  ROSALIE)  Then  you  go 
to  the  parlor  door,  open  it,  and  say :  "  Monsieur 
Poulot."  (MADAME  BOL  sweeps  majestically  down- 
stage; then,  in  her  usual  tone  to  ROSALIE)  M. 
Poulot  enters  and  you  close  the  door.  You  under- 
stand ? 

ROSALIE.    Certainly. 

MADAME  BOL.  Now,  when  7  ring,  it  will  be  for 
tea. 

ROSALIE.  (Rising — as  if  she  did  not  under- 
stand) For  tea? 

MADAME  BOL.  Yes,  for  tea!  What  is  the  mat- 
ter with  you  to-day  ?  You  don't  understand  a  word  1 

ROSALIE.    Oh,  yes,  I  do,  Madame,  only 


5 


ROSALIE  13 

MADAME  BOL.    Only? 
MONSIEUR  BOL.    Only  what? 

—  ROSALIE.    The  tea-set  isn't  ready! 
MADAME  BOL.    The  tea-set  isn't  ready!? 
MONSIEUR  BOL.     (To  MADAME  BOL — furiously) 

Then  everything  was  not  ready !  ? 

MADAME  BOL.  I  suppose  you  couldn't  get  it 
ready,  you  goose? 

—  ROSALIE.    I  didn't  have  the  keys! 

MADAME  BOL.  Why  couldn't  you  ask  me?  You 
ask  me  soon  enough  when  it's  to  get  sugar  for  your 
own  tea !  (She  takes  a  bunch  of  keys  from  the 
mantel-piece  and  gives  it  to  ROSALIE)  There! 
Bring  out  the  tea-things  at  once  and  come  back  right 
away.  (ROSALIE  goes  out,  left) 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  You  were  a  little  to  blame! 
You  ought  to  have  brought  out  the  tea-things. 

MADAME  BOL.  Oh,  indeed !  I've  not  had  a  single 
second  since  this  morning.  I've  cleaned  every  bit  of 
silver  in  the  house.  If  that  girl  can't  bring  out 
four  cups  and  saucers,  /  give  up ! 

(Noise  outside  of  broken  china.) 

ONSIEUR   BOL.     There!     She's  broken  some- 
thing. 

MADAME  BOL.     (Calling)    Rosalie! 

(Enter  ROSALIE.) 

-    ROSALIE.    Madame,  it  was  a  cup! 

MADAME  BOL.  Do  you  mean  to  tell  me  you  have 
broken  a  cup? 

MONSIEUR  BOL.    One  of  our  best? 
>    ROSALIE.    Yes,  Monsieur. 

MADAME  BOL.  How  did  you  do  it?  It's  impos- 
sible !  Our  best !  You  did  it  on  purpose,  you,  you — ! 
You'll  pay  for  it — do  you  hear  ?  You'll  pay  for  it ! 


< 


14  ROSALIE 

ROSALIE.    It  wasn't  my  fault;  it  just  dropped. 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  Yes — well,  you'll  pay  for  it  all 
the  same.  (Pointing  to  ROSALIE)  That  girl  dared 
ask  me  to  raise  her  wages.  (To  ROSALIE)  Raise 
your  wages !  Ha ! 

MADAME  BOL.  Hereafter  you'll  stay  in  on  Sun- 
days. (ROSALIE  begins  to  cry)  Stop  that!  Stop 
that !  There's  no  use  making  yourself  any  homelier 
than  you  are!  (ROSALIE  is  about  to  wipe  her  eyes 
with  her  apron  )  Don't ! 

MONSIEUR   BOL.     Haven't  you  a  handkerchief, 
you  little  fool? 
•       ROSALIE.     (Crying)     I  left  it — in — the  kitchen. 

MADAME  BOL.  Oh,  you  haven't  the  sense  of  a 
goose.  I  never  in  my  life  saw  such  stupidity! 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  Think  of  paying  wages  for 
such  a  servant ! 

MADAME  and  MONSIEUR  BOL.     Fool!     Idiot! 

(The   door-bell   rings.      MONSIEUR   and    MADAME 
BOL  cease  their  abuse  at  once.    A  pause.) 

MONSIEUR  BOL.    Sh!    There's  the  bell! 

MADAME  BOL.  (Whispering*)  It's  Poulot.  (She 
goes  to  the  mirror  and  arranges  her  hair) 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  (To  ROSALIE)  Quick!  Go  and 
open  the  door !  And  remember  everything  we  told 
you.  Go  on!  (Seeing  the  apron  on  the  chair) 
Oh,  the  apron!  (He  snatches  it  up  and  throws  it 
into  the  desk  drawer,  then  he  comes  back  and  finds 
ROSALIE  in  the  same  position  as  before)  Well?! 

MADAME  BOL.     (To  ROSALIE)     What's  the  mat- 
ter? 
—   ROSALIE.     (With  calm  assurance)     I  won't  go. 

MADAME  BOL.    You  won't  go?! 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  Don't  be  a  fool,  Rosalie;  the 
bell  rang;  go  and  open  the  door! 


ROSALIE  15 

<•—  ROSALIE.     (Calmly)    I  won't  go. 

MONSIEUR  BOL.     (Raging)     Oh,  you  won't  go! 
Well—?!     It's  Poulot— M.  Poulot! 
—  ROSALIE.    I  won't  go. 

MADAME  BOL.  Why?  (To  MONSIEUR  BOL) 
You  go  and  open  the  door. 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  Like  this?  In  my  evening 
clothes !  The  hall  is  dark ;  he  might  take  me  for  a 
servant  1 

MADAME  BOL.  Then  I'll  go !  (She  goes  toward 
door  center) 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  (Bringing  her  back)  What 
are  you  thinking  of?  That  would  spoil  every- 
thing: he'd  think  we  haven't  even  a  maid.  (To 
ROSALIE)  Rosalie,  we've  had  enough  of  your  fool- 
ing; go  and  open  the  door.  For  the  second  time,  I 
command  you ! 

ROSALIE.     No ! 


(The  bell  rings  again.) 


MONSIEUR  BOL.  There  it  is  again !  Do  you  hear? 
M.  Poulot  is  getting  impatient!  He'll  go  away! 
Rosalie !  In  the  name  of  all  you  hold  sacred,  go 
and  open  the  door ! 

ROSALIE.     No ! 

MADAME  BOL.  But  why  not?  Good  heavens, 
why  not? 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  (To  MADAME  BOL)  Don't  say 
anything!  (To  ROSALIE,  with  tears  in  his  voice) 
Listen  to  me,  Rosalie ;  there  must  be  a  reason ;  why 
don't  you  go?  Why  do  you  put  us  in  this  embar- 
rassing position? 

'  ROSALIE.  Why  do  you  always  scold  me,  then? 
Why  do  you  make  me  pay  for  a  cup  that  just 
slipped  out  of  my  fingers? 

MONSIEUR  BOL.     Good!     You  needn't  pay  for 


16  ROSALIE 

the  cup.    Are  you  satisfied  ?    Now,  go  and  open  the 
door. 

ROSALIE.    No ! 

MADAME  BOL.     (To  ROSALIE)     The  stubborn — ! 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  (To  MADAME  BOL)  Shh! 
Don't!  (To  ROSALIE,  very  sweetly)  I  tell  you, 
you  don't  have  to  pay  for  the  cup — what  more  do 
you  want?  Ah,  yes — you  may  go  out  Sundays. 
You  may  go  out  as  soon  as  lunch  is  over ;  you  may 
wash  your  dishes  the  day  after:  we'll  dine  at  the 
cafe,  Madame  Bol  and  I,  and  you  may  have  the 
whole  day  to  yourself.  Now,  go  and  open  the  door. 
Rosalie,  go  and  open  the  door! 

ROSALIE.    You  may  think  it's  fun  for  me  to  keep 
working  on  forever  on  thirty  francs  a  month ! 
X    v     MONSIEUR  BOL.    I'll  pay  you  forty! 

"^  ROSALIE.  You  say  so — (Bell  rings  twice) 
f  MONSIEUR  BOL.  (More  and  more  excited}  Oh, 
this  is  fearful !  to  keep  him  waiting  like  this  !  ( To 
ROSALIE,  supplicating)  You'll  get  your  raise.  I'll 
give  it  to  you  at  once.  There's  five  francs.  (Gives 
her  a  coin) 

MADAME  BOL.  (To  ROSALIE)  Take  it! 
(ROSALIE  takes  the  coin) 

MONSIEUR  BOL.     Now,  hurry  up! 

ROSALIE.     (Hesitating)     Well 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  What!  Is  there  something 
else? 

ROSALIE.  I  don't  want  Madame  to  call  me  names 
any  more. 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  She  won't  call  you  names  any 
more. 

ROSALIE.     "  Idiot,"  "  fool,"  "  goose." 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  Rosalie,  she'll  never  do  it 
again.  (To  MADAME  BOL)  Will  you?  Tell  her 
you'll  never  do  it  again! 

MADAME  BOL.    Of  course. 

MONSIEUR  BOL.    Now  go,  Rosalie. 


I 


ROSALIE  17 


ROSALIE.  Even  if  I  am  only  a  maid,  I  have  some 
dignity. 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  What  more  do  you  want  ?  Ex- 
cuses? (ROSALIE  nods  "Yes")  I  humbly  beg 
your  pardon. 

ROSALIE.     No,  not  you:  Madame! 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  (To  MADAME  BOL.)  You 
hear? 

MADAME  BOL.     Never!! 

(Rapping  heard  at  the  door.) 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  There  he  is  knocking !  He'll  go 
away,  I  know  he  will!  Oh!  (To  MADAME  BOL) 
Beg  her  pardon!  There's  no  harm  in  that. 

MADAME  BOL.    Ha!    Ha! 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  (To  MADAME  BOL)  You're 
worse  than  she  is.  If  Poulot  leaves,  it  will  be  your 
fault.  Oh,  Lord ! 

MADAME  BOL.     My  fault!? 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  (Threatening  MADAME  BOL) 
Whether  it's  your  fault  or  not,  beg  her  pardon, 
and  let  her  open  the  door ! 

MADAME  BOL.  You  know  very  well  she  won't 
go ;  she'll  only  ask  for  something  else. 

ROSALIE.    No ! 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  You  hear?  When  Rosalie  says 
no  she  means  no !  Now ! 

MADAME  BOL.  (With  a  great  effort)  Rosalie — I 
beg  your  pardon 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  (To  ROSALIE)  Now,  quick, 
quick ! 

ROSALIE.  (Goes  toward  door  center,  then  stops) 
Oh! 

MONSIEUR.    What  is  it  now? 

ROSALIE.    Shall  I  say  that  you're  here? 

MONSIEUR  BOL.     Yes,  certainly.  Quick.     (Shi 


i8  ROSALIE 

goes  out)  What  a  girl!  I'll  throw  her  out  of  the 
house. 

MADAME  BOL.  I  never  saw  anything  like  it ! 
To  make  me  beg  her  pardon! 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  But  it  was  necessary.  You 
must  be  politic.  Now  sit  down!  Don't  seem  dis- 
turbed— Whew  !  ( Wiping  perspiration  from  his 
face  and  neck)  What  shall  we  say  for  having 
made  him  wait  so  long? 

MADAME  BOL.  We'll  tell  him  the  bell  was  out 
of  order. 

MONSIEUR  BOL.     Sh!    Here  he  is. 

(MONSIEUR  and  MADAME  BOL  stand  expectantly. 
MONSIEUR  BOL  is  behind  the  chair,  MADAME 
BOL  behind  the  sofa.  The  center  opens;  enter 
ROSALIE.) 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  (To  ROSALIE)  Well?  Where 
is  he? 

ROSALIE.    Who  ? 

MADAME  BOL.     Monsieur  Poulot — where  is  he? 

ROSALIE.     I  don't  know. 

MONSIEUR  BOL.  You  don't  know?  But.  who 
rang  the  door-bell? 

ROSALIE.  How  do  I  know?  The  man  from  up- 
stairs !  'Rang  the  wrong  bell. 

(Consternation — then) 
Curtein 


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